FAIRFIELD – Members of the Fairfield Women’s Club have been making a special effort this summer to preserve the historic McElhinny House.
The club holds regular fundraisers to help pay for the upkeep of the building, which was built in the 1850s and is considered the city’s first “showpiece.” The Fairfield Women’s Club purchased it in 1933 and for many years has employed a caretaker who lives in the building and performs the necessary duties to maintain the house and accommodate the other clubs that use it, such as the Lions Club, Fairfield Kiwanis, PTO, Tri-T and others.
However, the club has been without a caretaker since March, so club members have had to fill the gap. Board members cook and clean in the house and serve meals to the organizations that eat there. Member Becky Thompson and her husband Chad mow the lawn and pull weeds.
In addition to annual fundraisers such as plant and cookie sales, ham ball and casserole dinners, and election day luncheons, the club also hosts occasional garage sales. One will be held this weekend, Thursday through Saturday, August 29-31. The event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“We hope to close early on Saturday,” joked club treasurer Jean Keller, expecting the club merchandise to be sold out.
The McElhinny House is located at 300 N. Court St.
The garage sale will feature kitchen utensils, plates, mugs, glasses, decorations and holiday items. Member Kay Unkrich said many of the items come from the club’s storage room. Keller added that many came from members who donated at their recent garage sales. All proceeds from the garage sale will go to the Fairfield Women’s Club.
The union asked the club’s newest member, Rachel Brown, if they had a fundraising goal for this garage sale.
“The goal is to get rid of everything,” she said.
The Fairfield Women’s Club has about 60 active members and often hosts 30 to 35 guests for its luncheons. Brown, who moved to Fairfield with her husband, Scott, last year to take over the Behner Funeral Home, said she had never belonged to a women’s club before until a friend invited her to try the Fairfield Women’s Club.
“I wanted to meet people and the person who invited me to the women’s club said she thought I would like it,” Brown said. “I liked it, so I kept coming back.”
Fairfield Women’s Club members look forward to their garage sale, scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, August 29-31, at the McElhinny House. Pictured, from left, are club members Jean Keller, Kay Unkrich, Rachel Brown and Becky Thompson. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at [email protected]
